Good way to recycle books?

Question

Is it possible to recycle books in another way besides tossing them in a bin? I hate to throw away books, but I'm moving soon and do not want the clutter. They might have to go in the trash if I don't find a way to get rid of them. Oh ... and I already checked the library - these are older books/novels, and they don't just accept anything at the libraries anymore. Thanks for any suggestions!

Answer 1

If you have any other libraries (other than the one you checked), don't give up on that one.  I donated several boxes of outdated textbooks and other academic reading material to the university library when I left my last job...my library didn't actually need those books BUT they were collecting books to help libraries in third-world countries build their collections (and some of the books were earmarked for replacing books lost following severe flooding at the Colorado State University library.  I donated still more books a few years later to a drive to rebuild some of the academic libraries destroyed by hurricane Katrina.

One branch of my local library has "honor paperbacks"...several stacks devoted to older paperback novels (including romance novels) donated by patrons...these books aren't cataloged and anyone can come in and take as many as they like with the stipulation that they return the books (or donate an equivalent number of replacements) at some point!  

The "free books" strategy works too...professors often do this with older books they no longer need in their personal library...I can usually find at least one stack like this somewhere in the hallway and it usually disappears within a few days.  I did something similar with about 500 paperback romance novels I had before I moved...big box on the curb with the word "Free"...within three days, the box (and everything in it) was gone.

Thrift shops are another good idea...I did this with even more  paperback romance novels...but all the ones I found in Denver limited donations of paperbacks to two boxes...I had about 10 boxes so after I donated to a few different shops, I put the rest in the "free to good home" box.  

Another possibility is one I hinted at in the first paragraph...libraries may be overcrowded in America but in MANY less-developed countries, they are hungry for books.  For illustration purposes only, consider http://www.biblicalstudies.org.uk/books_... ...they collect used Christian books and provide them to bookstores in foreign countries that can't afford to buy new books and sell them for a price the population can afford to pay.  If you have any "self-help" books or other Christian reading material in your collection, you can probably find any number of churches in your area that would love to take them off your hands either for their own library or for a mission.  When my mom passed away, we donated her entire collection of Christian books to her church...they used them to create a library for members (and guests) that, in 10 years, has grown to nearly 8,000 volumes!

Answer 2

Take them to Goodwill or try to re-sell them at Half Price Books.

Answer 3

I thought you might be interested in this site I found, www.PaperBackSwap.com. It's an online book swapping club for book lovers all over the country. If you want to find out more, just click the link below and it takes you to an interactive demo that explains how things work.

http://www.paperbackswap.com/help/how_to...

Enjoy!

Answer 4

give them to a charity shop, relative or second hand store...or you could take them to a hospital for the patients library. do not throw away or recycle them... books arent meant to be read!

Answer 5

You are not meant to throw books away! :O

You should give them away, maybe to a charity shop or maybe sell them if you can, on the Internet or something.

Answer 6

Never throw books away! There are so many people out there that would love to have them-take them to a thrift store or a nursing home or even a homeless shelter. Or you could even take them to a used book store they will pay you for them.

Answer 7

Salvation Army, Thrift Stores, put them outside with a sign that says "FREE "

Answer 8

There are many ways to recycle books.

1. Donate them to a library, bookstore or thriftstore.

2. Use a site like Swaptree.com (read about it here http://www.greenstudentu.com/eco_lifesty... and trade them for more

3. Recycle them with other paper products (http://www.greenstudentu.com/Paper.aspx)

Answer 9

seccond hand shops or care homes are always glad to recieve donations

Answer 10

All of the previous answers are all excellent answers and I have one to add.  Take them to your local county jail.  Most of them have a small library for the inmates.  They have nothing else to do for days on end so they offer them books.  

I used to work at a Goodwill store and there was one lady who bought our books specifically for the jail.  She said they also used them in literacy programs for the longer term inmates.

Just a thought.

Answer 11

Check out www.bookmooch.com - you can get rid of your old books guilt-free (no throwing books away!) and know they are going to good homes. Then you can use the points you've accumulated to choose new books you do want, or give your points to one of the many charities supported by bookmooch. Brilliant website! Alternatively, the Red Cross and Oxfam both take secondhand books and sell them in their own bookshops.

Answer 12

Try your local charity shops like Age Concern. I use them as libraries, paying only a small charge to withdraw a book!

Answer 13

I use a really good website called ReaditSwapit, You just list all the books you've finished with and you then swap with other users by post.

Answer 14

Do anything but DON'T throw them away....books were not meant to be pitched.....somebody could get some use out of them...as the one girl mentioned above.....some third world countries are hungry for books....you could start there...I'm sure they would greatly appreciate it and you would feel good about it at the same time:)  Good luck!

Answer 15

HAVE YOU TRIED CHECKING WITH NURSING HOME AND THAT SORT OF PLACES. I'VE TOOK MAGAZINES TO SOME BEFORE AND THEY TOOK THEM

Answer 16

Where do you live?  I work at a library and we take all kinds of books. We either use them for our library of have a sale for the students to purchase books really cheap.  The students love it!!

If you are near me I will be glad to take them off of your hands.

dcoder

Answer 17

I'm not sure about all libraries, but Cobb County Library will take your used books and give you a tax deductable reciept. They sell the used books at a big book sale at Jim R. Miller Park in Marietta every so often and use the money to add/improve computers and add books.